Out Fri Sep 13th 2013 through Vitamin, Take It Slow is the second album from Bobby Alu. In many ways for Bobby though, it feels like the first. In his own words: “My first album was completely solo and an experiment. Now Bobby Alu is a team and a family. The balance, line up and groove of the band has taken shape over two years of touring the country, playing festivals, support slots, writing together and of course – recording this album.
It’s all about lifestyle choice for all of us. We choose the lives we lead and remain grateful for the good fortune that comes our way. Success doesn’t come without hard work but we find salvation in keeping the balance. Chilling out as well as working hard but first and foremost enjoying the journey. Take it Slow is an album delivering this philosophy.”
Between the four of them — Paulie B (guitar), Stewart Barry (bass), Grant Gerathy (drums) and of course Bobby himself — the band has compiled these songs to offer up some down time and counter a fast-moving and at times careless, irresponsible world. Again, in Bobby’s words; “I have travelled a lot since the debut album and have drawn inspiration from the tussle to find balance and patience. Slip Take It Slow on and for 48 minutes take some time out to chill.”
Indeed, it’s been a massive two years for Charles Wall, Bobby Alu’s creator and alter ego. A highly-respected, sought-after musician in his own right, when Bobby Alu is taking time out from the spotlight it’s usually because Charles Wall himself is touring Australia, or the world. Most recently it’s been the USA with Xavier Rudd but for years now Charles has been a regular co-conspirator with the likes of Nicky Bomba, Kooii, Mista Savona, Oka and many more. Even the Take It Slow album launch tour dates have been slotted in amongst shows with Xavier Rudd, Donavon Frankenreiter & Nahko And Medicine for ‘The People’s National Tour’.
But, from an almost accidental start, it’s the enduring and ever rising reception for Bobby Alu that now takes up most of Charles’ time. And rightly so: there’s been two Queensland Music Award nominations, a semi-finalist berth in the International Song Writing Competition, support slots for The Beautiful Girls, Katchafire, Watussi and Blue King Brown and festival performances everywhere from Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Reggaetown Festival, Village Festival, Eclipse Festival, Wide Open Space in the Northern Territory, Folk Rhythm & Life Festival, the Australasian World Music Expo and Nannup Festival, to Island Vibe and Deep Roots. All this collaborating, living and learning within the project, meant this was the perfect time for Bobby Alu to record and release this collection of songs.
At the helm of the recording was the unflappable PaulieB, [the band’s full time guitarist, also contributing bass, vocals, percussion], who produced, engineered and mixed Take It Slow in his Tanuki Lounge studio. Clocking up an ARIA award and 300 000+ album sales with his old band George, international touring work with The Beautiful Girls, and production for bands such as Kooii, Kingfisha and Dubmarine has PaulieB at the forefront of the Australian roots scene.
A great friend and collaborator of Charles’ they’ve become a formidable bass and drums team for many artists over the years, though PaulieB’s relationship with Bobby Alu bassist Stewart Barry goes even further back. Meeting Charles when first they formed a rhythm section [for Melbourne artist Saritah] Stu’s years of experience in both the Melbourne and Brisbane Jazz scenes have seen him work with many top musicians over the past decade. Bringing up the rear, sits drummer Grant ‘Ding Dong’ Gerathy [Ray Mann 3, Jon Clearly] driving home the point that for this group — comprising two bassists and drummers — rhythm is the crucial element. It goes without saying that serious groove is essential to Bobby Alu, and its members’ inspiration.
Take it Slow embodies smooth with little stress. Paulie B, Stu and Ding Dong enhance Charles’ songs with the perfect experience and energy, creating music that soundtracks a complete lifestyle choice. Written completely on ukulele by Charles’ before the full Bobby Alu team developed bass lines, beats and licks, it was nonetheless a team effort also featuring Darky Roots frontman Josh ‘Hua’ Hillman on backing vocals, extra beats by African Percussionist Elliott Orr, and mastering by Grammy winner William Bowden [Gotye, The Living End, Hermitude, Eskimo Joe] at King Willie Sound.
Take It Slow Tour Dates
Fri 13 Sep – Woombye Pub
w/Sue-Anne
3/5-7 Blackall St, Woombye QLD
$15 pre sale | $20 on Door | 8pm
www.thewoombyepub.com.au
Sat 14 Sep – Swell Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast QLD
Pacific Parade, Currumbin, QLD
Free | 1pm
www.swellsculpture.com.au
Fri 20 Sep – Soundlounge
w/Sue –Anne
Currumbin RSL (Upstairs)
165 Duringan St, Currumbin, QLD
$13 pre sale | $15 on Door | 8pm
www.soundlounge.com.au
Sat 21 Sep – Sunset Brisbane River Cruise
Pick Up Points: Brett’s Wharf Hamilton 4.45pm OR Mowbray Park East Brisbane 5.00pm
$42.50 pre sale tickets | 5pm – 8pm Cruise
Includes: New Album, 3hr Cruise, Finger Food
Tickets available @ www.bobbyalu.com
Sun 22 Sep – Hotel Brunswick
w/Sue-Anne
4 Mullumbimbi St, Brunswick Heads, NSW
FREE 4pm
Sun 6 Oct – Caloundra Festival
w/ Xavier Rudd, Boy & Bear, Earth Wind & Fire, & more
King’s Beach Park, Caloundra, QLD
3.00pm
www.caloundramusicfestival.com
Fri 11 Oct – Clancy’s Fremantle
Support: Grace Barbe’ Acoustic
51 Cantonment St Fremantle WA
Tickets on the door | 9pm
www.clancysfishpub.com.au
Sat 12 Oct – Indi Bar
w/ special guests
23-27 Hastings St, Scarborough WA
Tickets on the door | 8pm
www.indianoceanhotel.com.au
Sun 13 Oct – Clancy’s Dunsborough
1710 Caves Rd, Dunsborough WA
Free Entry | 3.30pm
Thu 17 Oct – Mojos
Support: Simon Kelly Acoustic, Mister
237 Queen Victoria St, North Fremantle WA
Tickets on the door | 8pm
www.mojosbar.com.au
Fri 18 Oct – Prince Of Wales
41 Stephens St, Bunbury WA
Free Entry | 9pm
Sat 19 Oct – Settlers Tavern
114 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River WA
Free Entry | 9.30pm
Sun 20 Oct – Settlers Tavern
114 Bussell Hwy Margaret River WA
Acoustic Sunday Arvo Session
Free Entry
25-27 Oct – Island Vibe Festival
North Stradbroke Island, Brisbane QLD
www.islandvibe.com.au
Sun 17 Nov – Bondi Yoga Festival
Seagull Studio, Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach, Sydney NSW
8pm
www.bondiyogafestival.com
Sun 24 Nov – Mullumfest
Mullumbimby, NSW
8.45pm
www.mullumfest.com
Wed 27 Nov – The Basement
World Music Wednesdays
29 Reiby Place, Circular Quay, Sydney NSW
$5 | 8.30pm
Fri 29 Nov – Heritage Hotel w/ The Strides
240 Princes Hwy Bulli NSW
$20 | 9pm
www.heritagehotel.com.au
Sat 30 Nov – 505, w/The Strides
280 Cleveland St, Surry Hills NSW
$20 | 9pm
Sun 1 Dec – Moonshine Bar
The Manly Steyne
The Corso Manly
7pm, 2 sets
*VIC Dates TBC
During the Bobby Alu Take It Slow tour Charles will be slotting in drumming dates with Xavier Rudd, Donavon Frankenreiter & Nahko And Medicine For The People’s National Tour
XAVIER RUDD TOUR DATES
Wed 25 Sep – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide SA
Sat 28 Sep – 3 Oceans Winery, Margaret River WA
Sun 29 Sep – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle WA
Thu 3 Oct – The Forum, Melbourne VIC
Fri 4 Oct – Big Top, Luna Park Sydney NSW
Sun 6 Oct – Caloundra Festival, Sunshine Coast QLD
Mon 7 Oct – YAC Amphitheatre, Byron Bay NSW
Tues 8 Oct – The Tivoli Brisbane QLD
Bobby Alu’s Take It Slow is out Friday 13 September through Vitamin Records
www.bobbyalu.com | www.youtube.com/bobbyalu | www.facebook.com/bobbyalu